Tensions remain among Pocono Mountain Regional Police municipalities

Concerns that Coolbaugh Township could again threaten to pull out of the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department at the end of 2014 swelled Tuesday night.

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By JENNA EBERSOLE

poconorecord.com

By JENNA EBERSOLE

Posted Jan. 16, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By JENNA EBERSOLE

Posted Jan. 16, 2014 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

Concerns that Coolbaugh Township could again threaten to pull out of the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department at the end of 2014 swelled Tuesday night.

The new commission divided along municipal lines on selecting a new chair and debated whether members actually approved a more-than-$30,000 contract signed by previous chairman John Kerrick. Coolbaugh representatives have said the contract, to activate GPS in officers' vehicles, is a priority in their demand for greater accountability.

The 2014 commission adds new members Lynn Kelly of Coolbaugh Township, Phyllis Haase of Tobyhanna Township and Pocono Raceway President Brandon Igdalsky.

The board nominated two members, David Moyer of Tobyhanna Township and Roy Gross of Mount Pocono Borough, for board chair. The vote split the same 5-5 for each, with Igdalsky, Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock township members voting for Moyer and Coolbaugh and Mount Pocono members for Gross.

The commission came to agreement eventually on Jim Frutchey, citizen representative and former Coolbaugh supervisor who was secretary in 2013.

But contention that started with deciding on a leader continued when Coolbaugh representatives raised the subject of GPS in officers' vehicles.

Police have argued that the advantage of GPS is twofold, providing for officer safety in case they need to be located, and allowing for accountability of vehicle speed and use.

Coolbaugh representatives sought last year for a reactivation of a GPS contract with Fleetmatics after the department broke it to save money in the 2012 budget.

Chief Harry Lewis said he originally wanted to bring in GPS for officer safety, especially given spotty reception in the area.

"I can't tell you how many times a day we can't get a hold of our people," he said, but adding that with other cuts, adding more officers is a higher priority.

In November, Coolbaugh agreed alone to cover the roughly $17,000 cost for the broken contract in order to reinstate the service.

But Tuesday night, several members said the money for a new contract was not budgeted for 2014, and the commission never actually approved the contract, which has a cost of about $30,000 over three years.

Lewis said he did not have a copy of the contract until asking Fleetmatics. He said Kerrick, whom Tobyhanna did not appoint back to the commission for 2014, signed a contract with the company in November.

Lewis said the company came one day and was able to install GPS in marked vehicles, but he is not sure when they will return to finish the job in the rest.

Haase said she is concerned that approval for the signed contract is not in the commission's minutes. Several members said they cannot vote to approve a contract they have not seen.

"We were never told there was a contract signed," Lewis said.

But minutes from a Dec. 10 meeting show discussion with Lewis and other members present.

"Chairman Kerrick stated that Coolbaugh paid the bill, contract was signed and equipment waiting to be installed by the end of the year," the minutes say.

Juan Adams of Coolbaugh questioned Lewis on the cost concerns.

"You don't think that an officer's life is worth $1,000 a month?" he asked, to murmurs from the crowd.

The board tabled the discussion pending review of the signed contract, but Fred Courtright of Mount Pocono said the "elephant in the room" is the fact that Coolbaugh could consider pulling out of the department.

Kelly, the new Coolbaugh member, said the township's concerns date back to more than a year ago, when it last threatened withdraw, and have not been addressed.

"It honestly looks like last year didn't have any impact whatsoever," Kelly said.